If the news that’s currently going through the grapevine holds any truth, Manchester United fans can soon take a huge sigh of relief. It’s reported that Paul Pogba could very soon be exiting the gates of Old Trafford in a cut-price transfer now that the harrowing Bruno Fernandes deal is finally signed, sealed and delivered.
It’s already old media fodder that Pogba had been agitating for a move since last summer and has been linked with Real Madrid and Juventus, both of whom have openly shown their interest in the midfielder. Now with Fernandes having inked his signature on the dotted line, Manchester United look likely to cut him loose to pursue whatever he and his super agent Mino Raiola are cooking up in their pot of stew.
It had been rumoured initially that the France international midfielder could leave in the January transfer window, but this conjecture was thrown out when Pogba sustained another injury and had to be sidelined for another few weeks at least.
A new scenario has opened up now that Manchester United’s attacking midfield slot finally has Bruno Fernandes heavily in contention for the position that Pogba had been originally acquired to fill but has unfortunately been largely unable to fulfil due to persistent injuries throughout most of the season. The integrity of his personal commitment to the club has also been under the microscope for months, a situation further exacerbated by questionable, sarcastic comments made by Raiola to the media that have provoked the situation and incensed the club.
With Fernandes now clearly in the picture and no longer a figment of the United collective imagination, the Red Devils’ midfield woes could well be greatly lessened, Pogba or no Pogba regardless. United’s asking price for the latter has apparently been tagged at £150million, but could be willing to accept a lot less in the summer to offload Pogba now that they have another confirmed option to leverage on. With this new plot featuring Bruno Fernandes in the script, the expected departure of Pogba in the summer would be eased up on considerably, making things a lot less stuffy under the collars for United’s top brass.
The earliest that Fernandes could make his debut would be when United host Wolves at Old Trafford on Saturday and openly stake his claim to the attacking midfield slot as rightfully his.
The new midfielder has already scored 33 goals in 53 games for Sporting Lisbon last season, while adding another 15 goals in 28 games to that impressive tally this term.
United is slated to cough up an initial £46.6million for Fernandes, with two additional payments of £8.5m and £12.7m payable after that upon completion of certain clauses.
Manchester United fans and management head honchos, not least of all Ed Woodward and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, should be immensely relieved that the storms of uncertainty could well be abating now with calmer seas hopefully beginning this weekend itself!